Kwekwe (New Ziana) –The re-purposing of Garandichauya beer hall in Kwekwe into an Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) is now 95 percent complete, an official has said.
This was said by Kwekwe Mayor Councillor Angeline Kasipo while giving residents an update on efforts being made by the local authority to fight COVID-19.
Kwekwe used part of the ZWL$10.2 million devolution funds to convert Garandichauya Beer Hall into a 26-bed hospital which will be used to isolate and manage infectious disease patients.
“The current COVID-19 pandemic has further buttressed the urgent need for the existence of such a facility in Kwekwe city,” she said.
Kasipo said already, the Mbizo 16 clinic was converted into a COVID-19 isolation centre for asymptomatic and mild cases.
As of January 20, she said, Kwekwe had a cumulative total of 179 COVID-19 cases, 60 recoveries and 16 deaths.
“What this means is that we need to have every member of the Kwekwe community doing everything they can to mitigate the negative impacts of this pandemic on our lives,” she said.
“We have embarked on a city wide clean up exercise in the CBD, markets and residential areas with support from well-wishers, businesses and individuals. Enforcement of COVID 19 prevention and control measures in all shops, markets and public places.
“(We are also carrying out) disinfection and fumigation exercises in the CBD, markets, residential areas, public amenities, public offices and homes. Surveillance, case follow up, contact tracing, traveller monitoring, risk communication, community engagement, case identification and treatment, supervision of funerals by our city health rapid response teams,” said Kasipo.
“We strongly believe that these and other unmentioned efforts are what made us go through the first wave with relatively fewer cases and deaths. Now that we are faced with a more serious wave of the pandemic than we initially experienced we need to up our game in terms of the steps we take as Kwekwe community to contain it.”
Kasipo said urged people to avoid complacency and comply with COVID-19 prevention measures and lockdown restrictions.
New Ziana
